Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-30
LIFE OF DANIEL MANNING.
From Competitors Case to the Secreta-
ryship of the Treasury.


Few men arrive at so prominent position
in public life as that of Daniel Manning,
with so little in their upward course that is
noteworthy, to mark the successive stages
of progress. There is hardly an incident in
his career that calls for particular elabora-
ton, or that can be regarded as a turning
point in the direction of his on the whole re-
markable rise.
Mr. Manning was the son of an Albany
baker, who half n century ago lived in a
modest dwelling, still standing, nearly OPP
posite the late secretarys fine mansion, two
blocks west of the state capitol.
Tie family was in plain circumstances
when the father died, leaving three sons and
a daughter to be cared for by their mother.
OF these John B. Manning, wealthy citi-
zen OF Buffalo and at one time mayor of
that city, and Maria, the daughter, sur
vive. Daniel, the second son in age, was
born on Aug. 16, 1881. When his father
died he was years old. At this early age
he became connected with the newspa-
per Office in which he served in every stage
of promotion from route carrier to presi-
dent of its corporation. His first service
was with the old Albany Atlas, which af-
terward became The Atlas and Argus, and
later the widely known Albany Argus
From errand boy he became an apprentice in
the composing and job rooms and by the
time he was master of the mechanical de-
partment of the establishment lie was found
to be as apt at getting and preparing news
for the paper as he was at setting in types
what others had prepared. He had an ex-
cellent faculty for making acquaint-
ances that could contribute something to
political news, with which the papers
of that day abounded to the exclusion of
more general matters. Thurlow Weed went
to Albany and established The journal about
the time Daniel Manning was born. When
the latter grew to the estate of usefulness as
a reporter and editor, The journal and The
Argus were in the hottest part of their life
long partisan controversies. Young Man
ming became imbued with the spirit of the
political strife of the times. From LOYALTY
to the Democratic side he became an enthu-
siastic partisan, and when he was given the
legislature as his field of news opera
tions, he soon began to be felt as a
young man whose acquaintance it
was worth the politicians while to cult
vate. His growth in business connected
with the paper was under the guidance of
Calvin Comstock, one IF the proprietors of
The Argus, while the political branch of his
development was under the tuteage of
William Cassidy, the astute editorial poll
tician who long dominated The Argus at the
state capital. In 1865, then "a years old, he
became associate editor with Mr.. Cassidy.
and not long afterward he succeeded to Mr..
Comstock's proprietary interest Mr. Cas-
sidy's death in 1873 left Mr.. Manning at the
head of the newspaper concern, to be re
sponsibe fer Its financial prosperity and its
political eourSn How ual1 ba 4
theoe duties is shown by the business success
of the paper.
Two ~ after the Tweed ring was dis
rdpted h. odvanced to the front in Albany.
Mr.. Cassidy died, and he became the editor
and manager of The Argus.
In 1876 Mr. Manning became a member of
the Democratic state committee He had
supported Governor Tilden for the nominal
ton for president, and his intimate knowi-
edge of the governors ! lans made him one
of the most useful men on the com uttee
during the cHmpaign Of 1876. In $40 he
ai / .-o l'y Oh h state committee,
with - ltinont as clerk.
From Dc $50 he was chairman of the
state com @ and had undisputed control
of the orga zItion. When he was asked by
Albany bankers to be their guest at u dinner
in honor of his appointment as secretary of
the treasury, he declined, saying: Il assure
you that the happiness afforded is all the
greater because l quite realize that the Of
fees you tender are genuine and hearty. II
After Mr.. Cleveland was elected president.
Mr.. Manning expressed sincere desire to
retire from political activity. Two weeks
after the election he said: "The campaign
was long and hard fought desire to be re.
leased from responsibility Being asked with
reference to the prevailing gossip about his
going into the cabinet, he replied: "Such
talk is natural with people who do not
understand how a man can be active in a
successful campaign, as have been for the
past few months, without expecting reward
in the way Of an office have no desire
for public office. My means are ample for
the support Of my family, my business is
sufficient to absorb my time as closely as
desire to have it absorbed, and shall be con
tented to remain at my desk here in the